by the skin of one's teeth

The arrow scratched the camera, ricocheted off the wall and hit the dartboard (the cameraman survived by the skin of one's teeth because he was crouching down).

Centuries of Western training will be necessary before a Japanese will be able to appreciate the significance of such a phrase as 'catching a train by the skin of one's teeth!'

In their defence the party leadership could argue that they had been hampered by the lack of a parliamentary majority; the choice had been hanging on by the skin of one's teeth or of giving up and holding an election in the face of adverse opinion polls.